Vintage Model
Vintage Model
Model Trains for Serious Collectors
The first thing to point out is that serious collectors can spend a lot of money on model trains, so you might not be able to buy that special loco they've had their eye on, unless you are a very generous present-giver indeed!
One other consideration to bear in mind is the gauge of the Model Railway - buying an avid collector of N gauge an O Gauge Train will not be so warmly received as if You Can buy someone the model they love, in the gauge they collect. So check out which gauge you should be looking for if you are buying a present for someone else.
If you want to collect the best, then a couple of manufacturers offer an amazing range. There are some great special editions being manufactured, for example, and it is also possible to buy vintage/second-hand models either on-line or by going to a collectors' fair. E bay is a wonderful source of model trains and accessories, for example. The collecting of vintage models can put a serious dent in your pocket but bring you much joy, especially if you are old enough to remember the vintage models from your own childhood!
For most American Model railway enthusiasts, Lionel Trains will be a well-known name. A popular manufacturer in the 1940s and 1950s, the company started in the 20s and antique Lionel trains dating from those early years are certainly sought after. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on the Liberty Lines 600E 2-6-4 will consider himself fortunate indeed and the Lionel Super 381E is most likely to be seen in a museum than a private collection, since only a hundred were ever made. So whilst these particular trains may be impossible to afford as a gift even if you could source them, Lionel Trains do make new models still and it is also possible to pick up a great vintage item that many a collector will love. To find something in your price range, try using TM's Lionel Price & Rarity Guide (which comes in two volumes) or Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains to assist you in your search - both books detail the prices you can expect to pay for Lionel trains. As the cost varies enormously according to the condition of the train, they are clear about how much you can expect to pay for a mint condition train, say, rather than something in fair or poor condition. If the person you are buying for is a real model railway enthusiast, they may well be delighted with a rare model in poor condition that they can restore, rather than a run-of-the-mill model in Excellent Condition that doesn't have any excitement value. It sounds odd to recommend buying someone a beat up old train for a present, but if you buy the right one, you could make someone very happy!
Bassett-Lowke was an English toy company founded around the turn of the twentieth century, which is well known for its O gauge locomotives made with great attention to detail. Superb production quality and careful construction meant that every model was excellent but the company could not survive financially in competition with the more mass-produced and cheaper models which flooded the market in the late 1950s and early 60s, and ceased trading some forty years ago. In the high-end Vintage Train market today though, Bassett-Lowke is a name to conjure with, and pristine condition vintage models might set you back two or three thousand pounds sterling ($4000-$6000). Fortunately for most collectors, in the last ten years Corgi have started producing brand new high end collectibles with the Bassett-Lowke name. These are proving popular once again, and Corgi have stuck to the original O Gauge Scale, producing beautifully crafted Limited Edition pieces, some of which even have a miniature smoke generator so they can produce real steam. This is top quality, but it comes at a premium price, with many models costing GBP500-800 ($1000-$1600). For the serious collector they are a must though. If you can put any of these on your present buying list, you will be likely to find yourself with a very pleased collector on the receiving end of the gift.
Bachmann is another manufacturer that produces a good range of collectibles, and theirs are often in HO gauge, which is perhaps advantageous to many collectors as it is such a popular scale. They also do the Graham Farish range in N gauge, and both of these are much more affordable, being in the hundreds, rather than the thousands of pounds sterling. Many have digital control and a range of features which make it worth putting the loco on the tracks and using it, whereas some collectors of other top end models prefer to keep them pristine in the original packaging. To be honest, if they paid three thousand pounds/ $6000 for one Rare Vintage locomotive, who can blame them! Like Lionel, Bachmann Trains can be sourced on the internet as well as at fairs. Do be careful with Bachmann though as some of the older models are not top quality, but anything from the "Plus" or especially the "Spectrum" range is likely to be much better than from the standard range.
On thing to consider in a top quality Model Train is whether it supports DCC or Digital Command Control. This is a means of powering each individual loco by means of a decoder fitted to the train which responds to commands from a DCC controller. Many top quality locos can now be bought with a decoder already installed and the ability to operate the train independently of the power in the track in a great step forward in railway modelling. If the train is not DCC ready it is worth asking if it can be converted - i.e. can you fit a DCC chip yourself? In a top end loco it is a real advantage - it allows the modeller to include on-board sound and lighting effects, for example.
Though it is impossible to recommend particular models as the top ones to have, as that will depend on the special interests of the collector, my personal favourites include Hornby's OO gauge R2610 Caledonian or the Flying Scotsman LNER Class A1 4-6-2 loco (R1072).
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HO Scale 187 Hand Painted Railroad Personnel 2 MERTEN PREISER 447 914 NIB |  |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 27m |
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Vintage Golden Ampack Ho Train Control Model 401 MRC HO Scale | |
1 Bid | US $13.88 | 1h 42m |
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Revell Vintage1958 copyright 4 Farm Buildings Set Plastic Kits H O Scale | |
7 Bids | US $29.50 | 1h 49m |
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HO antique auto Jordan Preiser type kit vintage 1915 FORD MODEL T Touring Car | |
1 Bid | US $5.00 | 4h 28m |
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HO antique auto car Jordan Preiser type kit vintage 1904 MERCEDES ROADSTER | |
0 Bid | US $5.00 | 4h 37m |
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HO antique auto car Jordan Preiser type kit vintage 1912 PACKARD LANDAU | |
0 Bid | US $5.00 | 4h 41m |
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HO antique auto car Jordan Preiser type kit vintage 1913 SUNBEAM TOURING CAR | |
1 Bid | US $5.00 | 4h 42m |
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HO TRAIN TRAINSET EXPANDER VINTAGE BACHMANN 6 AXLE LOG CAR NICE1 | |
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US $10.99 | 5h 47m |
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VINTAGE LOT OF LIONEL TRAIN INFO HOW TO OPERATE PLUS MORE | |
0 Bid | US $4.99 | 6h 53m |
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S Scale NYC PRR Midgage Models Decals Streamline Coach Lettering Set No 1 | |
1 Bid | US $4.88 | 7h 16m |
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S Scale IC CNW UP Midgage Model Decals Streamline Coach Lettering Set No 2 | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 7h 23m |
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S Scale Model Decals NAMES of Streamline Coaches Lettering IMPERIAL Set No 3 | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 7h 28m |
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S Scale Model Decals NAMES of Streamline Coaches Lettering CITY OF Set No 3 | |
1 Bid | US $4.88 | 7h 31m |
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1920S IVES TRAIN CARDINAL SPECIAL SET RUNS LOCOMOTIVE 4 CARS MANUALS TRACK | |
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US $2,599.99 | 7h 52m |
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Vintage Rivarossi Lackawanna Qty 4 RR 2494671041489 Passenger HO EXC | |
1 Bid | US $36.99 | 8h 37m |
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Vintage Rivarossi Lackawanna Qty 3 Baggage Car Mail carScenic Slope Car EXC | |
3 Bids | US $26.99 | 8h 37m |
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VINTAGE MARX TRAIN TRANSFORMER MODEL 729 WORKING COND ORIGINAL OLD a | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 8h 38m |
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VINTAGE MARX TRAIN TRANSFORMER MODEL 729 WORKING COND ORIGINAL OLD b | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 8h 40m |
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Lot of 13 Vintage Model Railroad Train Telephone Poles | |
0 Bid | US $6.99 | 8h 58m |
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LOT 45 VTG TRAIN RAILROAD ACCESSORIES Animals Cars Trucks Crossings Figure | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 9h 3m |
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Primitive Vintage Hand Made Silo Tower Wood Paper Model Train or Folk Art | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 9h 8m |
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VINTAGE HO SCALE MARX TRAIN TRANSFORMER MODEL 6029 WORKS ORIGINAL OLD TOY c | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 9h 10m |
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HO VINTAGE QUALITY CRAFT CRAFTSMAN KIT 85 TRAILER TRAIN PIGGY BACK RARE RARE | |
0 Bid | US $14.99 | 9h 17m |
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VINTAGE HO SCALE LIFE LIKE TRAIN TRANSFORMER MODEL T 615 WORKS ORIG OLD TOY e | |
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HO VINTAGE LA BELLE CRAFTSMAN KIT 1905 COACH CLOSED VESTIBULE NICELY STARTED | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 9h 29m |
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VINTAGE AHM MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN CATALOG HO SCALE ASSOCIATED HOBBY MANUFACTURE | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 9h 42m |
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Vintage Model Railroad Lamp Posts O Gauge or Stamdard Gauge 1930s 1940s | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 10h 3m |
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HO TRAIN BACHMANN SILVER SERIES PLASTICVILLE BUILDING KIT AUTO REPAIR SHOP | |
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US $12.99 | 10h 7m |
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Bachmann Green plastic pond Vintage scale Model RR scenery | |
0 Bid | US $2.99 | 10h 8m |
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lot of vintage RR model structures instruction sheets pamphlets | |
0 Bid | US $4.99 | 10h 32m |
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Vintage Bachman Seaboard Coast Line Spirit of 76 Diesel Locomotive | |
1 Bid | US $9.95 | 10h 39m |
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Vintage Athearn HO scale Chessie System Diesel in original box 2 in all | |
3 Bids | US $9.99 | 10h 43m |
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Vintage lot Athearn HO BO railroad Engine Dummy tank and box cars | |
8 Bids | US $34.00 | 10h 57m |
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HO Scale Switcher Engine two cars and a caboose | |
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US $65.00 | 11h 12m |
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2 vintage Lionel O gauge cars NP boxcars Lionel flatcar logs | |
2 Bids | US $10.50 | 11h 26m |
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Vintage National Merchandising Corp PaceMaker Line Express Pack Toy Transformer | |
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US $10.95 | 11h 32m |
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Marx New York Central NYC Caboose 20102 Red Gray 3 16 Scale S Gauge Vintage Rare | |
2 Bids | US $12.99 | 11h 41m |
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airfix harrow oo scale train vintage | |
0 Bid | US $35.00 | 11h 42m |
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Marx New York Central NYC Boxcar 174580 Red Gray 3 16 Scale S Gauge Vintage Rare | |
2 Bids | US $13.99 | 11h 47m |
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Lot of 7 Vintage Athearn HO scale trains Baltimore Ohio railroad | |
8 Bids | US $41.59 | 11h 52m |
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Vintage Santa Fe 4015 Model Train Athearn F 7A diesel unit in HO scale | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 11h 52m |
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Vintage Virginian VGN 2610 Model Train HO Scale | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 11h 56m |
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Model RR Trains HO Scale Bachmann cargo 41 wood stock car No 76036 | |
0 Bid | US $3.99 | 11h 57m |
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Vintage Bachman N Scale Mobil Gas tanker car rolling stock for model train | |
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Vintage 1974 LIONEL Powermaster Multi Control Transformer 6 4090 | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 12h |
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antique composition HO OO people well bench Marklin TRIX Rivarossi accessory | |
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US $65.00 | 12h 4m |
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Lot of six vintage Athearn HO scale trains Chessie system Engines inculded | |
22 Bids | US $41.00 | 12h 9m |
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HO VINTAGE QUALITY CRAFT CRAFTSMAN KIT 85 ALUMINUM COVERED GONDOLA SOUTHERN PAC | |
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1 Bid | US $.99 | 12h 20m |
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Vintage Baltimore and Ohio Model Train HO Scale | |
1 Bid | US $.99 | 12h 21m |
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antique HO lead people passenger accessory chair umbrella tin MMM Marklin PIKO | |
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US $60.00 | 12h 32m |
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Two Woodland Scenics Boxes Model RR Tree Kit TK20 Complete Landscape System | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 12h 36m |
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Vintage Model Train Incline Set fits American Flyer S Scale COMPLETE 1 11 | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 12h 37m |
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LIFE LIKE HO SCALE VINTAGE KELLOGGS BOX CAR 10122 MIB | |
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HO SCALE VINTAGE GMC Box General Models ATHEARN WEATHERED ROTARY SNOW PLOW | |
1 Bid | US $25.00 | 12h 45m |
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A Vintage Bachmann 027 Scale Original Plastic Village N HO Scale Accessories | |
0 Bid | US $16.99 | 12h 46m |
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Ho Life Like Model RailRoad Train LN 115391 Coal Load Hopper Car New Vintage | |
2 Bids | US $3.48 | 13h 4m |
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Ho Tyco Model RailRoad Train LN 20459 Dixie Line Coal Load Hopper Car New Vintg | |
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Ho Life Like Model RR Train Rio Grande DRGW 18350 Coal Load Hopper Car New Box | |
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Vintage SILVER PEWTER CONDUCTOR 3 MAN for MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN TRACK | |
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US $19.99 | 13h 10m |
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Lot of 14 Athearn HO scale rolling stock in original boxes | |
13 Bids | US $49.48 | 13h 12m |
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2VINTAGE N SCALE FREIGHT CARS SOUTHERN PACIFIC WESTERN PACIFIC BNIB | |
0 Bid | US $14.99 | 13h 29m |
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TYCO HO SCALE VINTAGE PLANTERS PEANUTS HOPPER 230 | |
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Mini Great Northern RR Freight Truck Customized N Scale Classic Metal Works | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 13h 36m |
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Mini Maine Central RR Freight Truck Customized N Scale Classic Metal Works | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 13h 37m |
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Tags: art, fashion, photography, retro, vintage, vintage model airplanes, vintage model car kits, vintage model cars, vintage model kits, vintage models
January 19th, 2011 at 3:33 am
I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information “.~
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Reclame…
[...]Vintage Model
| Leavin Train[...]…
November 4th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
PHILOSOAPHY…
[...]Vintage Model
| Leavin Train[...]…
November 24th, 2011 at 1:17 am
Believe it when I see it. Hanging out for the Chickenfoot album in a few days tho!
November 26th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
יוטיוב שירים…
[...]Vintage Model
| Leavin Train[...]…